As this story is paragraph is being written, just outside the window to the right, the Chico State baseball team's bus is pulling away and heading south on Warner Street. The Wildcats are rolling. And not just down the road. The team has won five straight after an extremely rough patch to begin California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play.
Now right back in the mix in the CCAA standings, the Wildcats will attempt to keep on rolling this weekend when they take on Cal State San Bernardino in a four-game series at Fiscalini Field.
It is looking likely that, for the first time this season, the Wildcats will be able to play a game and then a series as originally scheduled. The forecast in San Bernardino calls for breezy and mostly-sunny days in the 70s in San Bernardino. Game one is set for 6 p.m. Friday night. A doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. follows, and the series will wrap up with a single game Sunday at 11 a.m.
All four games will be broadcast locally on Newstalk AM-1290 and FM 102.9. Links to streaming audio and live stats are also available at
www.chicowildcats.com.
Chico State enters the series with a record of 9-7 overall and 5-6 in the CCAA. Cal State San Bernardino is 9-11 overall and 6-9 in the CCAA. The Coyotes are 6-6 at home, while Chico State is 5-0 away from Nettleton Stadium.
The Wildcats rank fourth in the CCAA in hitting with a team batting average of .288. They're fifth in pitching with a 4.60 ERA. And they're fourth in team defense with a fielding percentage of .969.
Dustin Miller ranks third in the conference with a .425 batting average and fourth in on-base percentage (.520). Turner Olson ranks sixth in batting average (.385), and Alex DeVito is eighth in on-base percentage (.468). Brandon Hernandez's two triples are tied for the conference lead, and his four sacrifice bunts are tied for third.
On the mound, reigning National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Pitcher of the Week Grant Larson ranks fourth in wins (3) and strikeouts (31), and fourth in innings pitched (32.2). He and Sid Lacy are tied for seventh with a pair of saves apiece.
Among pitchers with at least 18 innings pitched, Andrew Lopez ranks fifth in the CCAA with a 2.00 ERA and Larson is seventh at 2.48.
But the Wildcats' greatest strength during this five-game winning streak has been their defense. They have committed only one error during that span, and have been making nearly every play from the ordinary to the extraordinary.
